8 Strategies for effectual grantmaking

Grant managers are some of the most essential staff members at busy foundations — and they’re some of the busiest, too.

With so many competing responsibilities, a grant manager role can easily become pretty demanding and stressful. And while juggling all of these duties, it can be hard for grant managers to know if they’re doing it right, and serving their communities and partners as best as they can.

In this blog, we’ll cover eight strategies for becoming an effectual grant manager — from using the right technology to understanding the importance of cultivating strong relationships and beyond.

What is a grant manager?

Before we jump into the specifics behind being a great grant manager, let’s unpack the basics.

While many people tend to confuse a grants administrator with a grants manager, a grant manager is responsible for overseeing the entire lifecycle of grants within a foundation.

That means that grant managers play a crucial role in ensuring that grant funds are allocated effectively and that funded projects align with the organisation’s mission and objectives. This includes acting as the liaison between the foundation and the grantees as well as working to keep all stakeholders abreast of the grant application review process — including all the successes, challenges and outcomes.

What does a grant manager do?

Grant managers often wear lots of different hats to ensure the organisation runs smoothly. While their responsibilities may vary depending on the size and focus of the foundation, they typically include:

• Grantmaking strategy: Grant managers often collaborate with foundation leadership to develop grantmaking strategies that align with the foundation’s mission, priorities and values. This may involve conducting research, assessing community needs and identifying areas of focus for grantmaking.
• Budgeting and financial management: Grant managers also often collaborate with accounting staff to help develop grant budgets, track grant expenditures and ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Grant proposal review and evaluation:One of the most typical jobs of a grant manager is reviewing grant proposals based on established criteria. They assess the potential grant’s alignment with the foundation’s priorities and make recommendations for funding decisions.
• Grantee relationship management: With trust-based philanthropy in mind, lots of grant managers are tasked with supporting and guiding grantees throughout the grant lifecycle, serving as the primary point of contact for grant-related questions and concerns. This may include conducting site visits, attending grantee events and facilitating communication between grantees and foundation staff.
• Grant monitoring and compliance: Grant managers also monitor grant-funded projects to ensure compliance with reporting requirements and regulatory guidelines.
• Grant reporting: Not only do grant managers assist in the pre-funded grant process, but they facilitate post-award assessments, too. Typically, they work to help establish criteria for grant reporting and assess outcomes.

8 Strategies for effective grantmaking

Because grant managers are so essential to the success of both foundations and their grantees, it’s important to be as effective as possible. Here are some strategies to consider. 

1. Go beyond the grant

In an era of participatory grantmaking and trust-based philanthropy, more and more foundations are thinking beyond the confines of traditional funding. To help in both endeavors, grant managers should focus on offering support beyond financial grants, like capacity and relationship building.

In approaching grantmaking more holistically — like offering non-financial support and prioritising relationships — grant managers can better serve their foundations and the communities they’re looking to aid.

2. Use the right tools

One of the most essential tasks of grant managers is to be organised and efficient. That’s why adopting the right tech is crucial.

To serve both the foundation and community well, grant managers should choose grant management software to streamline applications, reviews, and reporting. Not only will this help grant managers save time, but it will also help to reduce any possible mistakes or oversights.

3. Prioritise transparency

Trust-based philanthropy can’t exist without — you guessed it — trust.

To establish open and honest relationships, grant managers have a duty to be open and honest about grantmaking processes and decisions — both internally and externally. This might include clearly communicating eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and funding decisions to grantees, and explaining decision-making to internal stakeholders.

4. Monitor progress holistically

One of the biggest aspects of a grant manager’s job is to monitor and evaluate the outcomes and impact of funded projects.

However, some grant managers make the mistake of only considering quantitative data when measuring progress — not qualitative data (testimonials, community attitude surveys, etc). Both kinds of results are essential for understanding the success and setbacks of funded projects in order to inform future grants and allow grantees the opportunity to provide necessary context. 

5. Use tools to gather DEI demographics 

For funding opportunities with a diversity, equity and inclusion component, find ways to collect demographic data safely and securely. This could be through elevated security fields on your grant application, for example, and should meet accessibility standards to ensure usability for all.

6. Upskill and specialise

While not a necessity for being a great grant manager, developing expertise in niche funding areas within your foundation’s mission can allow you to become more effective in assessing community needs, evaluating grant proposals and connecting with grantees.

To upskill, or niche down, consider receiving your grants management certification or seeking mentorship from other specialised grant managers.

7. Focus on flexible funding

One-off financial grants don’t always accurately address community needs.

As a grant manager, advocate for flexible funding options, such as general operating support, multi-year grants or project-specific funding, in order to meet grantees’ diverse needs and support their long-term sustainability.

8.  Always keep the mission in mind

While seemingly simple, effectual grant management often comes down to understanding the mission, vision and priorities of the foundation you work for.

Be sure that all of your duties — throughout the entirety of the grantmaking lifecycle — align with the foundation’s overarching mission and strategic objectives, no matter how small the initiative or task might seem.

Become a successful grant manager with Good Grants

Grant managers are essential pieces to the grantmaking puzzle and ultimately help to create lasting impact in in-need communities. However, lots of grant managers, tasked with these goals, often find themselves overwhelmed.

With Good Grants, grant managers can save time and money — and do more good — at the same time. From initial planning and application creation and management to final reporting and distribution of funds, Good Grant lets grant managers do everything they need to — all in one place.